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Learn Italian with ItalianPod101.com. Italian idioms and proverbs is our latest addition to our lesson lineup! Learning Italian idioms and proverbs offers better insight into the Italian way of thinking and Italian traditional culture!
Today’s proverbs are really “diabolical”!
This entry was posted on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 6:30 pm and is filed under Idioms and Proverbs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
10 Responses to “Idioms and Proverbs #3 - To know one thing more than the devil”
ItalianPod101.com says:
May 16th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Today’s proverbs really originate from our traditional Italian beliefs.
Do you agree with their message?
petiteclaire says:
May 18th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I agree with the second one, mostly…
I’m still a bit ambivalent towards this series’ format (sorry….) : I guess it’s more culture class than language class, which would be fine by me if there was any actual explanation and/or cultural background on the proverbs. If it’s a language class, then almost everything is missing (grammar, vocab, etc… even though I found the vocab in the review track). For example, the repeat exercise at the end of the lesson has no real point, as the first proverb in this lesson has only been said once ! (not the case in the “Survival Phrases”)
I usually don’t like to criticize things. I’m doing this only because I think the concept is great, but still needs improvements. But at this point, wether the “Idioms & Proverbs” is survival phrases, language course or culture class, it still feels truncated…
Marco says:
May 21st, 2008 at 10:50 am
Dear petiteclaire,
thank you for your honest comments.
Should we make it into a “culture class” or a “language class”?
Do you believe that we should skip the repeat exercise at the end?
The aim of this short series, we are thinking of just 10 episodes for now, is to let listeners learn a little about Italian culture and also language without forcing them to study in a systematic way.
For the really committed students we have the other series.
Friday is a day for relaxing so we wanted to make our listeners smile and have a laugh, as they have studied hard all week.
If anyone else has any other comments please let us know.
Ciao a tutti!
Cinzia says:
May 21st, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Dear Petiteclaire,
thank you very much for your comments.
I always appreciate any kind of comments if they are constructive.
It’s the first time that I attempt to realize a project like this.
And as Marco said our aim is to try to give a new face to the Italian lessons, not always grammar and verbs and phrases, but aspects, most of the times particular, through which you can catch better the Italian language and its sense.
So please keep writing and posting and give me all the advices you think I need to improve our lessons, and in particular my project.
The only thing important to me is that I can feel YOU students can learn Italian thanks to our work. So I will be glad to speak to you soon. 
Cinzia
i am hopping to win this time
Deb says:
May 29th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I have to disagree somewhat with PetiteClaire. I think this series is an interesting adjunct to the main series. I found it useful to apply cognates and expand my understanding from the other lessons. It’s also interesting to make comparisons between cultures. For example, in English we have a proverb “Speak of the devil and in he walks” which is kind of like saying don’t tempt fate. It’s often used when someone you’ve just been talking about walks in the room, implying then something like “here come trouble” though usually only teasing.
I would like to see some of your explanation written out in the lesson guide, if that’s possible. I’m not expecting an in depth sociological treatise, just a few lines would help.
Deb
Cinzia says:
May 29th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Ciao Deb!
I am glad you’re enjoying my proverbs!
“Speak of the devil and in he walks” in Italian is “parli del diavolo e spuntano le corna” which literally means “speak of the devil and the horns come up”
it’s great how in different languages we can express opinions and ways of saying, but always relating to real life and common things that happen to everyone in every part of the globe!
grazie mille !!!
ciao ciao 
C!
Gustavo Enrique says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:31 am
Wow! That’s 3 whole devil-related proverbs already! His ears must be ringing…LOL! 
Marco says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Yes!
And in Italian we would translate “His ears must be ringing” as “Gli stanno fischiando le orecchie”
fischiare means to whistle, so it is a high tone sound, maybe higher than ringing.
Ciao
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Category: Idioms and Proverbs |
Grammar: To know one thing more than the devil. When the devil strokes you he wants your soul. | Function: learning with proverbs | Topic: proverbs | Politeness Level: informal
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